An inexpensive edition of the book that SCRABBLE players call their bible. Ideal for recreational and school play. More than 100,000 playable two-to-eight-letter words. Includes British variant spelling for game players in Canada. Endorsed by the National SCRABBLE Association.
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If you're using the 1991 edition or the 1978 original, you're woefully behind the Scrabble-playing times. With more than 100,000 2- to 8-letter words, there are some interesting additions ("aargh," "aarrgh," and "aarrghh" are all legitimate now), while words they consider offensive are no longer kosher. Why subscribe to the Scrabble dictionary's changeable lexicon? Well, it ends the argument of whose dictionary to use, but the main reason is that it's the winner's dictionary, and why play Scrabble if not to win? Memorize those 2- and 3-letter words, and your Scrabble game becomes lethal.
About the Author
The Merriam brothers desired a continuity of editorship that would link Noah Webster's efforts with their own editions, so they selected Chauncey A. Goodrich, Webster's son-in-law and literary heir, who had been trained in lexicography by Webster himself, to be their editor in chief. Webster's son William also served as an editor of that first Merriam-Webster dictionary, which was published on September 24, 1847.
Although Webster's work was honored, his big dictionaries had never sold well. The 1828 edition was priced at a whopping $20; in 13 years its 2,500 copies had not sold out. Similarly, the 1841 edition, only slightly more affordable at $15, moved slowly. Assuming that a lower price would increase sales, the Merriams introduced the 1847 edition at $6, and although Webster's heirs initially questioned this move, extraordinary sales that brought them $250,000 in royalties over the ensuing 25 years convinced them that the Merriams' decision had been abundantly sound.
The first Merriam-Webster dictionary was greeted with wide acclaim. President James K. Polk, General Zachary Taylor (hero of the Mexican War and later president himself), 31 U.S. senators, and other prominent people hailed it unreservedly. In 1850 its acceptance as a resource for students began when Massachusetts ordered a copy for every school and New York placed a similar order for 10,000 copies to be used in schools throughout the state. Eventually school use would spread throughout the country. In becoming America's most trusted authority on the English language, Merriam-Webster dictionaries had taken on a role of public responsibility demanded of few other publishing companies.
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By sadhana444
Format:Paperback
If you play scrabble around the home, this is a fun, helpful book to have around.
The National Scrabble Association web page on May 2004, has a tournament rules list that is dated May 2002. In these tournament rules, the reference section is as follows:
a) Official Tournament & Club Word List
Official Tournament & Club Word List (OWL) contains the only 2- to 9-letter words acceptable for club and tournament play, published by Merriam-Webster, Inc.
b) Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th Edition (MW10)
For words of more than nine letters, the OWL is consulted first. If a longer word (more than nine letters) is not listed in the OWL, to be judged acceptable it must appear as a main entry or inflected form or alternate spelling in bold print in (MW10). It must not be capitalized, hyphenated, contracted, foreign or listed only as part of a multi-word phrase.
Words of fewer than 10 letters listed in MW10 but not in the OWL are not acceptable, nor are inflections of main entries of fewer than 10 letters. Any word used in the definition of another word but not listed itself is not acceptable.
By Traveler
Format:Paperback
The 3rd edition of the Scrabble Dictionary, the newest edition as of this writing, will give you the most up-to-date listing of acceptable words to use in Scrabble.
However, many people don't realize that the Scrabble Dictionary went PC in this edition by removing all "offensive" or "vulger" terms. It appears that they wanted to make Scrabble a more family game and thus believed the removal of the bad words was necessary.
Obviously, you don't want your kid using certain four letter words on the board. However, removing these words is rather dishonest. They're words, period, and you can't place a value judgement on whether they're acceptable or not to include in a dictionary. It's like removing certain portions of a science or literature book because someone might be offended. As a result, many hardcore Scrabble players have refused to use the 3rd edition.
I'm sure many people, especially parents, will have no trouble with any of this. But for serious Scrabble players it's necessary to have a dictionary that determines all acceptable words. So what to do? Use both the 2nd and 3rd editions. While it's no longer being published, you can find the 2nd edition in either soft or hardcover on auction sites and at used book stores for a reasonable price.
By Jacob Hantla
Format:Paperback
First off, if you don't have a Scrabble dictionary and play Scrabble, you NEED TO buy this book. But let's say that you're like me and you have an older edition. Well the older editions had separate sections that listed all those nifty two letter words that can rack up big points (ex: aa, ae, xi, em, jo, etc). But you can find all of those words in the new one, just not listed separately. However, if you're like me and want to use all the new-fangled words like zit then you won't find them in any edition but the new one. I'm sure that there are many other new words in this edition, zit is just the only one that I've noticed so far. It's a trade-off, yoúr choice: the convenience of common-word lists in the older editions or the proff that newer words exist in the new version. I have both; maybe that's your best bet.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
For cheaters only
That's right, suckaz, if you use this book you are a cheater! You should only be allowed to play words you can actually use in a sentence without consulting a reference. Read more
Published on Jan 26 2004
2.0 out of 5 stars
Large print edition too hard to handle.
My grandmother is an avid UpWords player. At 98, her eyesight isn't what it once was, and she needs to use a magnifying glass to use her small print version of this dictionary. Read more
Published on Dec 26 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't play without it
The OSPD is no ordinary dictionary. There are capsule definitions given but no usage tips. All the entries are in caps. Read more
Published on Nov 16 2003 by Dennis Littrell
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must for scrabble players
As a casual Scrabble player and enthusiast, I knew that I wanted to get an official source of all the Scrabble words. Read more
Published on Aug 12 2003 by Adelknight Seven
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not Official, Not a Dictionary, Not Scrabble, Not for School
This dictionary, OSPD for short, was first compiled nearly three decades ago. It was a compendium of all words found in any of five college dictionaries of that era, which... Read more
Published on Aug 4 2003 by Daniel L Pratt
4.0 out of 5 stars
Works but breaks
This book is designed for Scrabble and Upwords. It's good for content, not complete, but good. The publication itself wears out quickly however. Read more
Published on July 15 2003
4.0 out of 5 stars
buy this book
If you play Scrabble, even occasionally just for fun, be sure to get this book. It will settle are arguements for what is(n't) allowed in legal play. Read more
Published on July 8 2003 by SweetFreedom
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gotta have it... but
While this isn't the complete Official Word List for competitive Scrabble, it is incredibly handy. The only complaint I have is that the printing is really bad in the paperback... Read more
Published on May 25 2003 by James Conley
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must for Serious Scrabble
If you are serious Scrabble player you need this dictionary. If you play any computer scrabble games most are based on this dictionary. Read more
Published on May 15 2003 by Book a Day
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good to have
If you're a big fan of Scrabble, & you have those words that have to be challenged, then this is the book for you. Just use it to it's full potential.
Published on May 8 2003 by "communitykid"
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